Apple overnight released a minor software update for owners of its Apple TV set-top media box that has thus far been revealed to include a new Network Test function and improvements when using Apple Remote for iPhone.

As of this morning, the company has yet to update its Apple TV software updates page, which has documented the changes in each new version of the software since the Apple TV Take 2 (review: part 1, part 2) update was unveiled early last year.

Instead, those installing the 2.3.1 software are reporting the update to wreak havoc on makeshift installations of the Boxee cross-platform media center software, which adds unauthorized support for a wide range of multimedia formats, online video channels, and social networking features. [Update: see Boxee's response on our blogs.]

An update to Apple TV that arrived this past November also disabled Boxee installations but did so while delivering a number of widely received features at the same time, such as AirTunes streaming from Apple TV, third-party remote control compatibility, playlists, and music volume control.

Although Apple still considers Apple TV to be one of its "hobbies," sales of the slim grey boxes rose three-fold during the 2008 calendar year. Apple customers are also expressing greater interest in the device as a movie rental system, which has compelled the electronics maker to continue to allocate R&D spending for the segment.

"It is clear the movie rental business is working and there are more customers who want to try it," Apple interim chief executive Tim Cook recently told analysts during a quarterly conference call.Â*"We will continue to invest there, because we believe there is something there for us in the future."

User-discovered changes in Apple TV 2.3.1

One AppleInsider forum member notes that songs selected via the Apple Remote iPhone application now begin playing immediately on Apple TVs update with version 2.3.1 of the software.

Another AppleInsider forum member notes that Apple has added a Network Test function to Apple TV under Settings>General>Network, which sends diagnostic information about your internet connection to Apple. This appears to be in response to a growing number of complaints that HD downloads suddenly slowed to a snails pace for some users around the holidays.

I would only like to see a couple changes or modifications to the service:
- Longer window to watch the movie once you start viewing. 24 hours is not long enough when you have kids in the house. It has to be at least 48 hours if not 72.

- Subscription based price options similar to Netflix. I would much rather pay Apple a constant $9.99 a month and get something like 3-4 HD rentals per month or even $14.99 for HD 5-6 rentals.

- Rental TV episodes. I've bought 8 TV episodes so far and downloaded countless free ones and I have to say that I have only watched one of the bought ones more than once. Steve said that people tend to want to rent a movie and not buy it. I think that TV episodes fill that description much more fully than movies do.

- This is a way out there idea, but why are there SD and HD quality movies available for rental? You NEED to have an HDTV to hook up an Apple TV to in the first place, why not make all movies one price and if there is an HD version then there is no SD version available.

I would only like to see a couple changes or modifications to the service:
- Longer window to watch the movie once you start viewing. 24 hours is not long enough when you have kids in the house. It has to be at least 48 hours if not 72.

- Subscription based price options similar to Netflix. I would much rather pay Apple a constant $9.99 a month and get something like 3-4 HD rentals per month or even $14.99 for HD 5-6 rentals.

- Rental TV episodes. I've bought 8 TV episodes so far and downloaded countless free ones and I have to say that I have only watched one of the bought ones more than once. Steve said that people tend to want to rent a movie and not buy it. I think that TV episodes fill that description much more fully than movies do.

- This is a way out there idea, but why are there SD and HD quality movies available for rental? You NEED to have an HDTV to hook up an Apple TV to in the first place, why not make all movies one price and if there is an HD version then there is no SD version available.

- HD movie purchases.

If Apple added Hulu support they would sell a lot more AppleTvs. While I don't mind paying for non-fictional (i.e History, Discovery Channel, etc ...) shows, I see no reason to pay for the latest episode of 24, Chuck etc...

If Apple added Hulu support they would sell a lot more AppleTvs. While I don't mind paying for non-fictional (i.e History, Discovery Channel, etc ...) shows, I see no reason to pay for the latest episode of 24, Chuck etc...

Oh man you are so right about adding Hulu support. I forgot all about that!

Why would anyone pay $1.99 or $2.99 when you can view SD and HD quality for free on Hulu???

My DVR has conked out during Heroes before and I just went up to Hulu to watch the last 15 minutes the next day on my Mac.

- This is a way out there idea, but why are there SD and HD quality movies available for rental? You NEED to have an HDTV to hook up an Apple TV to in the first place, why not make all movies one price and if there is an HD version then there is no SD version available.

You can hook up an AppleTV to a TV that supports 480p at 60Hz. An HDTV (1080p/1080i/720p) is technically not required.

- This is a way out there idea, but why are there SD and HD quality movies available for rental? You NEED to have an HDTV to hook up an Apple TV to in the first place, why not make all movies one price and if there is an HD version then there is no SD version available.

- HD movie purchases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KindredMac

Oh man you are so right about adding Hulu support. I forgot all about that!

Why would anyone pay $1.99 or $2.99 when you can view SD and HD quality for free on Hulu???

AppleTV isn't the only target for iTunes video content. iPod's can't play HD content. Some people have minis (and even AppleTVs) connected to standard def TVs. And if I'm just catching up on an episode of Chuck or renting a movie to watch on my next flight, I really don't need the HD version hogging space on my laptop hard drive and causing the next wireless Time Machine update to take forever. (And even when I'm watching it on my 42" 1080p plasma TV, half the time the iTunes SD video quality is better than Comcast's 1080i broadcast anyway.)

There are similar issues for why Hulu isn't the answer to everything. I don't always have an internet connection. Hulu is of no use to me on my iPod (believe it or not, not everyone has an iPhone!) or on a flight. What I think the networks should really do is take their Hulu versions of shows, include the commercials, and just release them as podcasts via iTunes. They'll have a broader audience since podcasts are compatible on many devices, not just iPods, Apple doesn't charge anything for managing our podcast subscriptions, and the networks don't have to pay to maintain Hulu. They only need to host their source video.

HD movie purchases won't arrive until Apple has secured the video signal between iTunes and the display. I suspect that is a main factor for the adoption of the DisplayPort standard. You can do rentals from AppleTV because they are temporary and don't ever get copied off the AppleTV to your iTune library. But for purchases, you are going to want to watch them on other devices and back them up. That means getting them into your iTunes library. The studios likely wouldn't allow that until the entire path, iTunes to display, is encrypted.

If Apple added Hulu support they would sell a lot more AppleTvs. While I don't mind paying for non-fictional (i.e History, Discovery Channel, etc ...) shows, I see no reason to pay for the latest episode of 24, Chuck etc...

This is why a Mac mini and not an Apple TV sits under my living room TV. BBC iPlayer (like Hulu but with support full screen and no adverts) is just too good to give up.

All Apple need to do is open in up to third party plug-ins. BBC iPlayer is already available for various mobile phones.

If Apple added Hulu support they would sell a lot more AppleTvs. While I don't mind paying for non-fictional (i.e History, Discovery Channel, etc ...) shows, I see no reason to pay for the latest episode of 24, Chuck etc...

Apple doesn't have that choice. In fact, I think Hulu jumped all over Boxee to remove their unauthorized support for Hulu. They want to limit viewing to computers only for some strange reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teckstud

Why would anyone rent anything with only a 24 hour viewing window?

Because for most people it only takes two hours to watch the movie. And actually, there's a mechanism to view the movie beyond that 24 hour period... just pause it. You can continue viewing it until it's over.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teckstud

And this points to exactly why it was my mistake to buy an Apple Tv and not a Mac Mini instead for my TV. And you also get Safari on your TV.

So we have to pay for your mistake then? While I love to read comments, the need to skip over all your negative posts does get old after a while. Can't you do us a favor? Get a hammer; take your AppleTV outside and smash it to bits. Live a happy life.

Disclaimer: The things I say are merely my own personal opinion and may or may not be based on facts. At certain points in any discussion, sarcasm may ensue.

The ATV is basically an instant gratification device (possible intermittent slow download issue excepted). My wife and I decide if we feel in the mood for a movie, check what's available and what we feel like watching, initiate the download and start watching within minutes. A couple of hours later we're done. No planning required - that's the whole point.

Now I fully understand the issue for people with small kids. My friends in that category tell me that they never get to watch a rental movie all the way through in one sitting. (My response: get your damn' kids under control. <g>)

Unfortunately the whole 30 day/24 hour window limitation is a movie studio condition, not Apple's idea. In the end I imagine the studios will have to loosen up a bit, just as the record companies now have.

Now I fully understand the issue for people with small kids. My friends in that category tell me that they never get to watch a rental movie all the way through in one sitting. (My response: get your damn' kids under control. <g>)

I really hope that was a joke because you obviously don't have kids.

I guess I don't have my child "under control" because he is having a hard time with 4 teeth coming in and a double ear infection and I'm such a horrible father for going into his room and trying to comfort him so he can get back to sleep instead of plopping my ass on the couch, ignoring him so that I can watch through my movie rental in one sitting.

Because for most people it only takes two hours to watch the movie. And actually, there's a mechanism to view the movie beyond that 24 hour period... just pause it. You can continue viewing it until it's over

That makes no sense- you can't go beyond 24 hours- period. And if it's on the last day of the 30 day rental- guess what- you're screwed.

Quote:

So we have to pay for your mistake then? While I love to read comments, the need to skip over all your negative posts does get old after a while. Can't you do us a favor? Get a hammer; take your AppleTV outside and smash it to bits. Live a happy life.

Actually I'd like to keep it as a collector's item- a failed piece of consumer electronics
-like the iPod HiFi or an 8track player. I have a happy life- do you?

- This is a way out there idea, but why are there SD and HD quality movies available for rental? You NEED to have an HDTV to hook up an Apple TV to in the first place, why not make all movies one price and if there is an HD version then there is no SD version available.

You do NOT need an HDTV to hook it up. It will work on a Standard TV (480i),
as long the TV has Composite video inputs. It works great on my SD TV, and I'm glad they offer programming in SD still.

We've been over this so many times. It was designed as an extension of iTunes on your Mac. The only real changes that have been made are to allow you to connect to other services, like the iTS server for rentals and purchases, YouTube, Flickr etc. The device is still the same as it ever was: iTunes for your TV.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

I see Teckstud's point here. The window is a bit limited in that if you have to stop, for example, half way through and then try to start it up the next night at the same time you are screwed unless you paused it and didn't do anything else with the device. I think even a 30 hour window be better as it would give you two evenings or two afternoons or whatever time of day you usually play a movie.

However, one must wonder what percentage of people that would be iTS movie rental customers are not going to rent because it's 24 hours (and not 30 or more hours)? I don't think it's enough to make the studios want to change their model anytime soon. I predict that once digital rentals really take off, then we should see some competition with rentals lasting longer as a marketing ploy to generate more business. Others will have to follow suit in kind.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

That makes no sense- you can't go beyond 24 hours- period. And if it's on the last day of the 30 day rental- guess what- you're screwed.

Actually I'd like to keep it as a collector's item- a failed piece of consumer electronics
-like the iPod HiFi or an 8track player. I have a happy life- do you?

I think I've mentioned this before, but you are the kind of person who, if given a wheel barrow full of gold bars, would complain about the weight.

might I ask WHERE are all your MORE successful products? it seems your opinion is such that ANYTHING you could devise, program, manufacture and bring to market with perfect advertising, would blow Apple TV figures out of the water.

SO WHY DON'T YOU?

given that perspective, it becomes apparent that you really do know all about failure.

I don't see how an anti M$ stance can be seen as a bad thing on an Apple forum I really can't!

I see Teckstud's point here. The window is a bit limited in that if you have to stop, for example, half way through and then try to start it up the next night at the same time you are screwed unless you paused it and didn't do anything else with the device. I think even a 30 hour window be better as it would give you two evenings or two afternoons or whatever time of day you usually play a movie. ...

The problem with teckstud is he only ever even has a *tiny* portion of a point, and usually only after about three or four back and forths with other, more intelligent posters feeding him his lines. He's like a fake Oblio without the charm. (extra points if anyone gets the reference).

We can all be jerks from time to time and I'm certain that I say some negative and even nasty things, but he makes a veritable career out of it. It's the same script over and over again.

He makes some a-hole off the cuff remark, constantly finding the dark lining to an otherwise shiny cloud. Three people call him on it and then he really starts to salivate, punching back on all fronts using the information graciously provided to him by people assuming he actually knows anything or is interested in a real debate. I can't think of a single contribution in terms of information or insight he has ever had.

He's an argument junkie like some of the rest of us, but as we all know an argument is not just the automatic gain-saying of everything the other guy says. He's also rude almost every time whereas I pride myself on only being rude some of the time and mostly only to idiots.

In Windows, a window can be a document, it can be an application, or it can be a window that contains other documents or applications. Theres just no consistency. Its just a big grab bag of monkey...

In my experience, there is a small grace period once you choose to start watching. I've found that if the movie is paused, lets say at 11 p.m. after playing for an hour. The next day, I can go back at 11 p.m. and resume playing and/or restart the paused movie from the beginning. This gives you more than a strict 24 hours cut-off period for enjoying the movie, if you're been lucky enough to find an enjoyable movie. Haven't experimented with how long you could string this out. It makes interrupting a movie and resuming the next totally doable. A 48 hours rent window would be way better.

Stumbled upon 'Man on Wire' back in mid-January ... incredible documentary. Recommended!

The problem with teckstud is he only ever even has a *tiny* portion of a point, and usually only after about three or four back and forths with other, more intelligent posters feeding him his lines. He's like a fake Oblio without the charm. (extra points if anyone gets the reference).

We can all be jerks from time to time and I'm certain that I say some negative and even nasty things, but he makes a veritable career out of it. It's the same script over and over again.

He makes some a-hole off the cuff remark, constantly finding the dark lining to an otherwise shiny cloud. Three people call him on it and then he really starts to salivate, punching back on all fronts using the information graciously provided to him by people assuming he actually knows anything or is interested in a real debate. I can't think of a single contribution in terms of information or insight he has ever had.

He's an argument junkie like some of the rest of us, but as we all know an argument is not just the automatic gain-saying of everything the other guy says. He's also rude almost every time whereas I pride myself on only being rude some of the time and mostly only to idiots.

Since when did you become Sigmund Freud? Please, please relieve me from your ANAL-ysis?